Section 10
John knew that Christ could do anything, but He would not do anything for him. Although the Lord could have done something, it was right for Him not to do anything. John must have been convinced by the Lord's word and strengthened by it.
In 7:24-28 the Lord Jesus spoke to the crowds concerning John the Baptist. In verse 26 the Lord Jesus said that John the Baptist was "much more than a prophet." In verse 27 He went on to say concerning him, "This is he concerning whom it is written, Behold, I send My messen ger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You." Malachi 4:5 prophesied that Elijah would come. When John the Baptist was con ceived, it was said that he would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). Hence, in a sense, John may be considered "Elijah, who is about to come" (Matt. 11:14). However, the prophecy of Malachi 4:5 will actu ally be fulfilled in the great tribulation, when the real Elijah, one of the two witnesses, will come to strengthen God's people (Rev. 11:3-12).
In Luke 7:31 and 32 the Lord Jesus went on to say, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like young children sitting in a marketplace and